Welcome
              To the Special World of Rita Ralston
              I met Rita through the wonderful poem My Cyber Friend
              which I fell in love with immediately, it was as if she read my
              mind and put onto paper what I felt about my friends I have
              met on the internet. We became friends from the start. Rita has
              an incredible talent that comes from her heart. Thank You Rita
              for sharing your wonderful talent with the rest of us. We miss
              you and await your return to the net. I promised so many to
              never take down your Lost Treasure page and I never will. I
              won't forget when you sent me the poem to read how quickly
              the graphics and music for it hit me. Nor will I forget your
              reaction to seeing the whole page put together. It will always
              be here for you and everyone who loves your poetry.
              The rest of this page is a copy from Rita's Website... it's Rita's
              words and poetry
              . You will find a link further down
              for Lost Treasure. Thank you Dick for saving this page. I think
              all of you will enjoy Rita's work as much as we do.

              My Favorite Poems By Me

              from my heart

              Friendship...Encouragement...Love

              Rita Ralston

               

                

              My Cyber Friend

               This was inspired by the many friends in cyberspace I love...

              In June of 1996, after being mostly housebound for nine years, 

              I stumbled into my first chat room and have been there ever since. 

              The wonderful people there became my "cyber family". 

              After about six months, I was trying to find a way to express how

              I felt about them, and I wrote this poem...

               

              I haven't ever seen you, 

              But I know you're really there;

              I click you into reality 

              Like magic from the air.

               

              Your voice is like an angel, 

              Though I really do not hear;

              Your hug as warm as any 

              Of loved ones I hold dear.

               

              You're always there for comfort, 

              Or a word of cheer;

              Though you are very far away, 

              I always have you near.

               

              You're a very special friend, 

              Like none I've ever known;

              As long as you're in cyberspace 

              I'll never be alone.

               

               ©1997 Rita Ralston

                

               Selected as a Finalist in the  1997 Second Tri-Annual Mountain Arts Poetry Card

              Contest at the Blue Mountain Arts greeting card site

               

               This poem is at Blue Mountain Arts and can be sent as a greeting card…

               

              Published by The Poetry Guild 1997…Honorable Mention

               

              Special thanks to Sue for inspiring me to build this site and

              beautifully displaying this poem here and here on her homepage…

              and "Lost Treasure"  here…

               Hope Springs Eternal

               This was written after I began to get better after a terrible relapse of my illness.

              It was almost spring, my favorite time of the year...

              this poem was born out of a heart filled with new hope.

               

              The lesson of the winter

              Giving way to spring,

              Is nothing lasts forever

              Until all is well again.

               

              If yesterday was rainy

              With storm clouds overhead,

              The sun will soon be shining,

              Blue sky above instead.

               

              The seasons teach me patience

              To never feel despair;

              I know it won't be very long

              ‘Til springtime fills the air.

               

              As long as bitter winters

              Keep melting into springs,

              Hope should spring eternal

              No matter what life brings.

               

              ©1997 Rita Ralston

               

              Published by The National Library of Poetry 1997

               

              Published by Sparrowgrass Poetry Forum 1997

              Lost Treasure

              Titanic is the first movie I have been to see in years because of my health,

              but it captivated me and is my favorite movie

              because of the poignant way that true love was portrayed.

              ( My special Lost Treasure page dedicated to Rita )

               

              From Despair To Peace

              This was written at the lowest point in my illness when I almost lost the use of my legs.

              My faith sustained me through those bleak days

              as it does every day.

               

              From one down trodden to another,

              I’m wondering my friend,

              Will this despair go on and on,

              Or will it ever end?

               

              I guess there is no answer,

              Or even a proper guess,

              So on we go, day by day, 

              Coping with distress.

               

              When others do not understand

              Or even seem to care,

              We know each other and the Lord

              Forever will be there.

               

              We have survived all this so far,

              And we didn’t think we could,

              So we can make it to the finish

              And then be free for good.

               

              It will be on those streets of gold

              Before we’re really whole again,

              Having forgotten all of this

              With joy that will never end.

               

              When it’s put in that perspective,

              It doesn’t seem so bad,

              If God is Father, Heaven home,

              Why should one be sad?

               

              With heart strengthened now by faith

              In wonderful things to come,

              Let’s live life as best we can

              And  let His will be done.

               

              One day we’ll know the reason,

              And see why it was best,

              To suffer for a little while

              Before that blessed eternal rest.

               

              With a prayer always on our lips,

              And hope always in our hearts,

              The peace that passes understanding

              Will never, ever depart.

               

              ©1992 Rita Ralston

               

                In Loving Memory

              This poem is dedicated to the memory of my beloved Daddy,

              who epitomized love of others and joy of living.

              I lost him suddenly in 1971 when I was twenty years old. 

              I still miss him very much.

               

               On the day you left this earth

              It was more than I could bear,

                How could I face life again

              Without your being there.

               

              The days were long and lonely

              And  I hoped it just a dream,

              Then I would simply turn around

                And together we’d be again.

               

              After many anguished tears

              And an aching broken heart,

              I had to try and live again

              Knowing we’d always be apart.

               

              Then I looked up and to the sky

              And I could almost see you smile,

              Telling me life’s too precious

              And this was just for a little while.

               

              Now I know you never left,

              Your spirit’s in everything I do,

              Living in my heart and mind

              Until  the day I’ll be with you.

               

              Though I’ll always miss you,

              Your laughter and your touch,

              My life has much more meaning

              For loving you so much.

               

              ©1998 Rita Ralston

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              When Rita comes back online and puts up a website
              I will be adding a link to her site from here :-)

               Now Playing "Spring Rain"

              by Bruce DeBoer

               visit his site for more wonderful music by him